Erminio R. "Sonny" Cardi, M.D.

89, of Cranston, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 15, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of, and is survived by his wife Clara F. (DelBonis) Cardi. Born in the Knightsville section of Cranston, he was the son of the late Domenico and Rosa (Corpolongo) Cardi.

Dr. Cardi graduated from LaSalle Academy (1945), Providence College (1948), Georgetown University Medical School (1952), and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine in General Surgery.

He served as a Captain in the United States Air Force Medical Corps during the Korean Conflict from 1954-1956, stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He served his internship at Worcester City Hospital and Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. He was a Diplomat of American Board of General Surgery, a Fellow of American College of Surgeons, a founding member of Providence Medical Society Insurance Agency, Past President of the Providence Surgical Society, Past Secretary of the Rhode Island Medical Society, Past President of the St. Joseph Hospital Medical Staff, and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Joseph Hospital. He was on staff there from 1960 until his retirement in 1993.

The author of several articles in medical publications, including the New England Journal of Medicine, he also authored changes in Federal Medicare physician reimbursements, introduced intra-operative endoscopic surgery in Rhode Island, and was a primary mover to require all rescue services to carry lifesaving adrenaline to treat acute allergic reactions.

Along with his brother Alphonse, he established the Domenic Cardi Scholarship Fund at Providence College in 1969 to help underprivileged students achieve a higher education.

He was the devoted father of the late Raymond P. Cardi, M.D., Michael A. Cardi and his wife Diane, Paul D. Cardi, M.D. and his wife Gail, Rosemary Hendrickx and her husband Douglas, James K. Cardi, M.D. and his wife Monica, and Ginamaria Shapiro and her husband Louis. He was the loving grandfather of Alyssa Cardi, Danielle Fagan, Leigh and Cliff Cardi, Max and Van Hendrickx, Hannah, Celia, Levi, and Ty Shapiro, Christian and Beatrice Cardi, and great-grandfather to Mia and Samantha Fagan.

He was Brother to the late Rev. Roland Cardi, Irene Quintavallo, Dr. Alphonse Cardi, Angelina Cantone, Peter, Paul, and Nicholas Cardi, and Mary Barone. He is survived by his dear sister Elizabeth Paolella.

Visiting hours and flowers are respectfully omitted. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 19, 2016 at 10:00 am in St. Mary’s Church, 1525 Cranston St, Cranston. Burial will follow in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston.